sciencehabit writes: Computer simulations of tiny robots with rudimentary nervous systems show that, over hundreds of generations, these virtual machines evolve altruistic behaviors. They begin to share small disks--a stand in for food--with each other so that their comrades' traits are passed on to the next generation. Experts say the study sheds light on why various animals--from bees to humans--help each other out, even when it hurts their own chances to reproduce.